Projecting Alabama’s 2023 depth chart after spring practice

Projecting Alabama’s 2023 depth chart after spring practice

The Sunday deadline for undergraduates to enter the NCAA transfer portal has passed, and the beginning of May has brought some level of roster clarity to Alabama.

There is still a chance for further additions — Alabama is pursuing UAB safety Jaylen Key and Louisiana cornerback Trey Amos through the transfer portal — and graduate transfers are free to depart Alabama at any time.

But in general, the group Alabama has now will be the one that lines up in four months when the Tide begins its season Sept. 2 against Middle Tennessee State.

Here is a position-by-position look at the roster of scholarship players and projected depth chart:

QUARTERBACKS: Tyler Buchner, Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson, Dylan Lonergan, Eli Holstein

Analysis: Milroe arrived at Alabama in January 2021 and Simpson in December 2021, so respectively they have spent 28 and 17 months in the program. After hundreds of hours of practice and meeting time getting an up-close look at both quarterbacks, Saban decided to add Buchner through the transfer portal last week. That spoke volumes, and Buchner comes to Tuscaloosa with a years-long relationship with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. Yet Simpson and Milroe still clearly felt confident enough in their chances to win the starting job this August and did not transfer, which sets up a fascinating August in which Alabama will be as crowded from a numbers standpoint and as uncertain as it has been in years at the position. The transfer portal window for undergraduates does not open again until December 4.

RUNNING BACKS: Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams, Justice Haynes, Jam Miller, Richard Young

Analysis: McClellan and Williams have waited their turn behind Najee Harris, Brian Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, but one of the storylines during fall camp will be how quickly Haynes can ascend the depth chart. Saban spoke highly about the five-star freshman this spring, and he could be a hard player to keep off the field. Another player to watch is Young, who is one of four freshmen enrolling this summer and like Haynes was among the top-rated running backs in the 2023 class. Saban has said multiple times this spring he feels good about the running back position.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Ja’Corey Brooks, Jermaine Burton, Malik Benson, Isaiah Bond, Kendrick Law, Kobe Prentice, Shazz Preston, Emmanuel Henderson, Thaiu Jones-Bell, Jalen Hale, Jaren Hamilton, Cole Adams

Analysis: Rees told ESPN before the spring game he felt good about the depth at wide receiver; the question is more about who rises to the top. Brooks and Burton are the incumbents but Benson, a junior college transfer, could get on the field immediately as a deep threat. Bond, Law and Prentice have all earned praise from Saban, too, at various points since arriving as freshmen last year.

TIGHT ENDS: CJ Dippre, Robbie Ouzts, Danny Lewis, Amari Niblack, Miles Kitselman, Ty Lockwood

Analysis: Dippre filled a need for Alabama as a transfer from Maryland, after the loss of Cameron Latu (third round, San Francisco 49ers) to the NFL draft. With Ouzts limited by injury this spring, Lewis made strides and was on the field as the first-team tight end to begin the spring game.

OFFENSIVE TACKLES: J.C. Latham, Elijah Pritchett, Kadyn Proctor, Miles McVay, Wilkin Formby

Analysis: Pritchett allowed several sacks during the spring game at left tackle, and the second-year tackle could be pushed this August by five-star freshman Kadyn Proctor. Another option for Alabama would be to move Latham, a junior, from right to left tackle.

OFFENSIVE GUARDS/CENTERS: Seth McLaughlin, Tyler Booker, Darrian Dalcourt, Terrence Ferguson, Jaeden Roberts, James Brockermeyer, Olaus Alinen, Roq Montgomery

Analysis: McLaughlin and Booker return as starters while Dalcourt, back for a fifth season, is the favorite to start at left guard after the departure of Javion Cohen in the transfer portal.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Jaheim Oatis, Justin Eboigbe, Tim Smith, James Smith, Jamil Burroughs, Jah-Marien Latham, Tim Keenan, Damon Payne, Monkell Goodwine, Khurtiss Perry, Isaiah Hastings, Anquin Barnes, Hunter Osborne, Jordan Renaud, Edric Hill

Analysis: One of the surprises of the spring was no defensive linemen entering the portal despite considerable numbers — 15 scholarship players — and limited opportunities for playing time. Alabama uses two big-bodied defensive linemen the majority of the time on defense these days, and its rotation against higher-level opponents does not get deeper than five or six linemen.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS: Dallas Turner, Chris Braswell, Keanu Koht, Quandarrius Robinson, Jeremiah Alexander, Keon Keeley, Yhonzae Pierre, Qua Russaw

Analysis: This continues to be perhaps the strongest position on the roster from a recruiting rankings standpoint, with three freshmen five-star prospects — Keeley, Pierre and Russaw — added to a group that already includes three five-star players in Turner, Braswell and Alexander. The big question at the position is who becomes the third pass rusher behind Turner and Braswell, with Keeley and Pierre entering the competition as summer enrollees.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS: Deontae Lawson, Jihaad Campbell, Trezmen Marshall, Shawn Murphy, Justin Jefferson, Kendrick Blackshire, Ian Jackson

Analysis: Alabama coaches spoke highly of Campbell, a five-star recruit last year, to ESPN before the spring game. Lawson missed the spring because of injury but is expected to be a starter and one of the leaders of the defense upon his return. The question is where Marshall fits after his transfer from Georgia. He was part of the first-team defense for the spring game.

CORNERBACKS: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Terrion Arnold, Earl Little II, Antonio Kite, Dezz Ricks, Jahlil Hurley

Analysis: McKinstry and Arnold are expected to start at cornerback for a second season, although it will be a return to that role for Arnold after ceding it to Eli Ricks midseason. The big question is who starts at “star,” or slot cornerback, with Malachi Moore and Little the top two options in the spring game. Numbers have taken a hit at this position for another season because of the portal, with Jahquez Robinson and Trequon Fegans leaving last week. If Amos picks Alabama as his transfer destination, he would likely compete with Arnold for a starting job.

SAFETIES: Caleb Downs, Malachi Moore, Kristian Story, DeVonta Smith, Jake Pope, Brayson Hubbard, Tony Mitchell (suspended)

Analysis: There is little doubt at this point that Downs will start at safety for Alabama as a freshman, and the top-10 rated recruit has the talent to become one of Alabama’s best players this season. The question is the other starting spot, where Moore began the spring game but Story also saw time. If Key chooses Alabama as his transfer destination, that could be where he plays.

SPECIALISTS: K Will Reichard, P James Burnip, LS Kneeland Hibbett, K Conor Talty, K/P Upton Bellenfant, K Reid Schuback, P Nick Serpa, LS Alex Rozier, LS Kade Wehby

Analysis: Reichard initially accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl before backing out and returning to school. That sets up a situation where Talty, the first scholarship kicker Alabama has recruited since Reichard in 2019, is the backup as a freshman. But Bellenfant showed some range by hitting a 49-yard field goal in the spring game, too.

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.